Documents in Support of Petition for Revision of Recognition Date
The Santo Tomas Guerrilla Unit was an outfit formed and operated out of northern Batangas, with its headquarters located on a hill in Mount Makiling near the town of Santo Tomas. The outfit was commanded by one former Captain in the USAFFE named Lorenzo Talatala and would later become affiliated with the President Quezon’s Own Guerrillas (PQOG), one of the large guerrilla organizations operating in Luzon. In this page1 is a collection of documents submitted to the Guerrilla Affairs Branch of the Philippines-Ryukyus Command in support of the Santo Tomas Unit’s petition for the setting back of its recognition date.
[p. 1]
FIL-AMERICAN IRREGULAR TROOPS
HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD
TO: LT. COL. L. N. TALATALA,
1. I received your letter thru Maj. Bueno. And I am sending you one of your shotguns with five rounds. I did not send you both because news always reach me that we are going to be raided by the Capilis.
2. Concerning the bullets you are asking for, I am sorry that we have no more 45 caliber bullets. Before, we had plenty of 25 caliber bullets (Japanese bullets) but now we have no more. I have sent my Trigger Squad looking for 25 Japanese bullets and if they will be fortunate enough to collect the said rounds, I will give you some.
3. I have heard that you have a German Luger pistol so I am sending you 8 bullets for the said pistol.
COMMANDING OFFICER
OF THE PHANTOM UNIT
[p. 2]
FIL-AMERICAN IRREGULAR TROOPS
HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD
TO: LT. COL. TALATALA
SUBJECT: NEWS AND REPORT
1. In our patrolling in Lalakay, we met a group of sakdalistas and we had a short encounter. After a short firing on both sides, the sakdalistas retreated.
2. In that encounter, we had used six of the bullets you sent me. So, for the sake of friendship, according to your men you have plenty of caliber [unreadable number] bullets, please send me all the bullets of the shotguns you lent me. And if I cannot repay you now for your kindness to me, perhaps I can pay all my debts of kindness to you when peace time comes.
3. I know that you are an officer of the P. A. and I am a mere sergeant of the Philippine Scouts Company K, 45 Infantry. So, you can easily locate me when peace time comes.
4. In patrolling of my Trigger Squad, they came across Mr. Felipe Magpantay complaining about the immoral actions done by one of your men by the name of Adriano Austria.
5. According to Mr. Felipe Magpantay, the said Adriano Austria had done a forced collection from him. He said that he was forced to give palay (the amount was not mentioned in fear of being kidnapped by Adriano Austria) and even the three baols in the house were all searched by him. He did not tell my Trigger Squad the things taken from the baols.
6. This action is generally against the rules of our organizations. So, I hope that this man is properly investigated.
7. In our understanding, I will not do any collection in your sector. And that I hope so that collection is not to be done in my sector especially when it is by force. So I decided to report this for reference.
OF THE PHANTOM UNIT
[p. 3]
OFFICE OF THE 25th DIVISION HQ
IN THE FIELD
SUBJECT: GENERAL INFORMATION
TO: Lt. Col. LORENZO N. TALATALA
1. Be informed that I have received your report thru Major Saberon dated 6th January 1944.
2. Be informed further that I have made the final choice to appoint you as my Chief of Staff, and therefore you are expected to report immediately for a conference.
3. I have received the Alert Signal from the SWPA thru Major General V. S. Umali. Be sure to prepare all your men for the Zero hour.
4. Accompany Major Saberon to my base. I will be waiting for you for a very urgent business.
Division
P.S.
[p. 4]
Rcn plan. Sto. Tomas Regt. PQOG
1. Daily patrols to Sto. Tomas, Los Baños and to high ground NW Mt. Bijiang.
2. Establish OP vicinity of San Vicente to report traffic on road and observe for artillery positions.
3. Send contact patrols to know Jap positions.
Maj. S-2
[p. 5]
[Originally handwritten.]
Maj. FA.
Approved: – 2 March 45
Frank L. Barbee
1st Lt, M. I
Comdg 11th CIC Det.
[p. 6]
HEADQUARTERS XIV CORPS
Office of the Civil Affairs Officer
APO 453
|
SUBJECT TO |
: Authorization to Ride in Government Vehicle. : All Military Police and Drivers of Military Vehicles. |
Civil Affairs Officer
[p. 7]
Commonwealth of the Philippines
Province of Batangas
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The bearer, Lt. Col. Lorenzo Talatala, PQOG together with 10 members of his unit, are on their way to Tagaytay Guerrilla Headquarters en route to their sector at Sto. Tomas, Batangas. They conferred with me at my office and oriented themselves with the functions of the Guerrilla Headquarters in Nasugbu and at the same time reported enemy concentration in their area.
This note is given for the purpose of introducing them to the nearest transpiration officer, 11th Airborne Division.
Acting Provincial Governor
[p. 8]
[Originally handwritten.]
This is to authorize Col. Talatala and Governor Malvar & Major Modelo to ride a government vehicle from Santo Tomas to Calamba & return. These men want to contact PCAU at Calamba with regard to municipal affairs at Santo Tomas.
801st CIC
[p. 9]
[Originally handwritten.]
To: C.O. Santo Tomas Unit
1. I am sending the two picks and shovels as requested. There is a good possibility we may need these by tomorrow, so I would appreciate it if you would return them by then.
2. Our supply Sgt. is going after shoes tomorrow and he will try and take care of you. We have had some trouble in getting small sizes, so I don’t know what luck he will have. I will keep trying, though.
Maj. FA
[p. 10]
UNITED STATES PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FORCES
THE HUNTERS or R.O.T.C. GUERRILLAS
CP: 49th REGIMENT
|
SUBJECT TO |
: Acknowledgement : Commanding Officer
Sto. Tomas District, BGU
|
1. Your official representative, Capt. Nicasio Torres, arrived here 4 January 1945, and given due acknowledgement.
2. It is understood that all his statements are official and whatever decisions he makes holds true for your unit.
3. This command will do its best to convince the GHQ that your unit be fused with us, and if that is not possible, to just acquire a contact for your unit.
4. Information about your command is very favorable and rest assured you’ll have the best of recommendations from this command.
5. Your representative will be guided to our GHQ for detailed explanations about your unit. From there, you will be informed by him as to your definite status.
Commanding
[p. 11]
BATANGAS GUERRILLA UNIT
SANTO TOMAS DISTRICT
Office of the Commanding Officer
|
SUBJECT TO |
: Acknowledgement : Commanding Officer
49th Reg., ROTC GUERRILLAS
|
Re your communication of 4 January 45 be informed:
1. That this command appreciates very much the courtesy extended to our official representative and hope to repay the favors in the near future.
2. While this command is decidedly in favor of fusing the different guerrilla units due to its foreseen advantages, yet we believe that it would still be better that this fusion should be effected not under any guerrilla unit’s name, but under a new one which will signify the unification of all the guerrilla units in the Islands under the command of the United States armed forces.
3. This command believes that by so uniting the different guerrilla units under a new organized armed force, it will avoid and eliminate altogether the factional rivalries between different guerrilla organizations, now very apparent in practically all places.
REITERATING OUR THANKS FOR THE GOOD HELP YOU HAVE SO KINDLY EXTENDED TO US AND KEEP ‘EM FLYING.
Commanding